Match Preview: Sheffield United vs Cardiff City (FA Cup Third Round)

Fixture: Sheffield United vs Cardiff City 

Date: Thursday, 9th January 2025

Time: 7:00 PM (GMT)

Venue: Bramall Lane, Sheffield

Competition: FA Cup Third Round

Sheffield United host Cardiff City in the third round of the FA Cup, a competition steeped in history for both clubs. The Blades aim to continue their strong recent performances in the competition, while Cardiff will look to avoid an early exit for the fifth straight season.

Sheffield United, currently 3rd in the Championship, come into this tie in good form, having won their last league game 2-1 against Watford. Their record in the FA Cup is impressive, reaching the quarter-finals in 2020 and 2021, and the semi-finals in 2023. The Blades are no strangers to this competition's latter stages and will seek to make a strong start to their campaign.

Cardiff City find themselves 23rd in the Championship, fighting against relegation. Despite their league struggles, they are unbeaten in their last three matches, showing resilience under interim manager Omer Riza. However, the FA Cup hasn’t been kind to the Bluebirds, who have managed just one third-round win in the past four seasons.

Sheffield United have dominated this fixture in recent years, winning the last five meetings. Their most recent encounter saw the Blades triumph 2-0 at Cardiff City Stadium in December 2024, courtesy of a Kieffer Moore brace.

• 21 Dec 2024: Cardiff City 0-2 Sheffield United
• 15 Apr 2023: Sheffield United 4-1 Cardiff City
• 12 Nov 2022: Cardiff City 0-1 Sheffield United
• 23 Apr 2022: Sheffield United 1-0 Cardiff City
  

The Blades are dealing with a long injury list, with Harry Souttar, Oliver Arblaster, Gustavo Hamer and Tyrese Campbell among the absentees. Manager Chris Wilder may rotate his squad, giving opportunities to players like Adam Davies, Jamal Baptiste, and Rhian Brewster. Callum O’Hare's involvement is doubtful after being risked in their previous match.

Davies; Gilchrist, Ahmedhodzic, Baptiste, McCallum; Hampson, Peck; Brooks, O’Hare, Brewster; One

Cardiff will be without Callum Robinson (suspended) and key player Aaron Ramsey is missing due to injury. Rubin Colwill could lead the line in Robinson's absence, while Perry Ng and Dimitrios Goutas are expected to anchor the defence.

Alnwick; Ng, Goutas, Daland, O'Dowda; Siopis, Chambers; Tanner, Robertson, Willock; Colwill

Please note that actual starting lineups may vary depending on final team selections and any last-minute changes.

• Sheffield United's Home Advantage: They have a strong home record and are in good form.
• Cardiff City's Struggles: They are in the relegation zone and have a poor recent record against Sheffield United.
• Sheffield United's Quality: They possess greater squad depth and individual quality.
  

• Sheffield United: Expect the Blades to control possession and exploit Cardiff’s defensive vulnerabilities, especially through set-pieces and wide areas.
• Cardiff City: Cardiff may focus on a compact defensive setup, relying on counter-attacks and set-pieces to threaten the hosts.
  

A competitive fixture is expected at Bramall Lane, but Sheffield United’s superior league form and depth should give them the edge. Cardiff's recent resilience in the league could make this a closer contest than the table positions suggest, but the Blades remain strong favourites to advance.

1. Sheffield United to Win
2. Under 2.5 Goals
3. Kieffer Moore to Score Anytime
   

The 1925 FA Cup Final between these two teams was historic, as Sheffield United triumphed 1-0 to secure their fourth title. Two years later, Cardiff became the only non-English side to win the FA Cup, defeating Arsenal 1-0.

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All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.